Democrat Roxanne Donnery to lead Orange County Legislature

Donnery selected with crucial assist from Republican Fornario

GOSHEN — With the aid of a single Republican, Democrats chose Roxanne Donnery on Wednesday as the 2009 chairman of the Orange County Legislature, marking the first time a Democrat has led the chamber in its 39-year history.

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By Chris McKenna

recordonline.com

By Chris McKenna

Posted Jan. 8, 2009 at 2:00 AM

By Chris McKenna
Posted Jan. 8, 2009 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

GOSHEN — With the aid of a single Republican, Democrats chose Roxanne Donnery on Wednesday as the 2009 chairman of the Orange County Legislature, marking the first time a Democrat has led the chamber in its 39-year history.

The decision was surprisingly smooth, given that two Democrats and a Republican were vying for the $45,000-a-year job and none appeared to have the 11 necessary votes. The Legislature has 10 Republicans, 10 Democrats and one Independence Party member.

Had no one mustered 11 votes, the decision would have fallen to Republican County Executive Ed Diana. That's what happened two years ago, when he named Republican Bill Lahey chairman after the Legislature failed to reach a consensus.

Donnery, of Highland Falls, said she expected that same outcome when she arrived in Goshen Wednesday. But by then, Tom Pahucki, her Democratic rival for the post, had decided to pull out, having realized he couldn't win the votes of any Republicans or Michael Amo, the Independence member.

"Simple math," he later explained.

Pahucki's fellow Democrats backed him, but Donnery held a trump card: the vote of her Republican ally Frank Fornario. That gave her alone a path to 11 votes — if only her caucus would line up behind her.

It finally did so shortly before the meeting.

"I was shocked," Donnery said later, after improvising an acceptance speech and being sworn in. "It's a pleasant surprise and a new beginning." Nine Republicans voted for Lahey, who has been chairman for three years. Only Fornario broke ranks, going so far as to nominate Donnery, whom he called "passionate and principled."

"I believe she will set politics aside and work in the best interests of each and every legislator," he told his colleagues.

Amo had his own surprise: He nominated himself for chairman, also vowing to transcend partisan politics. Soon afterward, the votes were cast: 11 for Donnery, nine for Lahey and one for Amo.

Donnery's victory comes as Democrats have seized a narrow enrollment edge among Orange County voters and as the parties prepare for the 2009 elections for all 21 Legislature seats and county executive.

Being chairman allows Donnery to pick committee leaders and gives her caucus a greater chance to shape the legislative agenda. But she vows to preserve a deal by which Republicans and Democrats split control of the committees in 2008.